The land comprising the state of Texas was very sparsely populated by the time Mexico received independence from Spain. After his father received a land grant in 1827, Stephen Austin moved 300 Americans to Texas. Mexico was interested in having Americans move to Texas as long as they converted to Catholicism, kept their official documents in Spanish (the official language), gave an oath to Mexico and worked the land without slaves. Tension arose as the "Tejanos" (Texans from Mexico) followed these rules while the Americans did not. As tens of thousands of Americans arrived in Texas over the next three years, they began to disrespect the Mexican culture and the regulations more and more.
This picture shows the territory of the Lone Star Republic annexed by the U.S. in 1845.
In the hopes of easing tensions, Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico city in 1833. However, his plan failed and Austin was thrown in jail and the relationship between the Americans and the Mexicans began to quickly deteriorate. In 1835, war broke out between the Mexican army and a group of "Texan revolutionaries". The Texans declared their independence, which lead to the massacre of the Alamo mission. The Mexicans quickly killed everyone but the women and children in the Alamo Mission, which then caused thousands of Americans to flock to Texas to fight for their independence.
The Americans defeated the forces of Santa Anna and Mexico recognized Texan independence on May 14, 1835. The Lone Star Republic was officially its own country from then to February 19, 1845. In fear that Mexico would try to recapture the land, the United States wanted to annex Texas. However, there was controversy; the northerners knew that Texas would be a slave state, which would only upset the balance and lead to the spread of slavery. On the other hand, the Southerners wanted the U.S. to annex Texas for the fertile land for producing cotton. Nevertheless, the United States annexed Texas in 1845.
The annexation of Texas angered Mexico, and in turn, led to the Mexican-American War that lasted from 1846 to 1848.
This picture is a picture of Stephen Austin, who went to Mexico City to calm tensions between the Tejanos and the Americans and whose father received the land grant that allowed Americans to move to Texas.
This is a map of the United States, in 1850, after the annexation of Texas.
The link below is a video which summarizes everything, once you get past the goofiness of the man.
In the hopes of easing tensions, Stephen Austin traveled to Mexico city in 1833. However, his plan failed and Austin was thrown in jail and the relationship between the Americans and the Mexicans began to quickly deteriorate. In 1835, war broke out between the Mexican army and a group of "Texan revolutionaries". The Texans declared their independence, which lead to the massacre of the Alamo mission. The Mexicans quickly killed everyone but the women and children in the Alamo Mission, which then caused thousands of Americans to flock to Texas to fight for their independence.
The Americans defeated the forces of Santa Anna and Mexico recognized Texan independence on May 14, 1835. The Lone Star Republic was officially its own country from then to February 19, 1845. In fear that Mexico would try to recapture the land, the United States wanted to annex Texas. However, there was controversy; the northerners knew that Texas would be a slave state, which would only upset the balance and lead to the spread of slavery. On the other hand, the Southerners wanted the U.S. to annex Texas for the fertile land for producing cotton. Nevertheless, the United States annexed Texas in 1845.
The annexation of Texas angered Mexico, and in turn, led to the Mexican-American War that lasted from 1846 to 1848.
The link below is a video which summarizes everything, once you get past the goofiness of the man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ke5Ml92_AU